peach almond tart with frangipane filling & other thoughts

These last few weeks have been a nice vacation for me, but I was more than happy to pick up my new 100mm Macro Lens and photograph this delicious tart (see below for recipe). I love almond pastries so this Frangipane filling was perfect for a sweet summer treat! 

On another note, lately I've been thinking about what photography means to me. I'm always looking for something new and different- a different effect, angle, focus, color. The reaction I get more often than not from other photographers when I show these photographs is that I've messed up or don't know how to shoot that subject appropriately. But a photograph isn't necessarily wrong because it's not typical. Those always prove to be my favorite photographs. Think about Richard Avdeon and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (above). The photograph shows the couple in the midst of hearing something that appalled them- yet this tells you show much about each of their character. Or Vivien Maier's shot of a mother and child at the beach (left). Something about the angle of the shot is so intimate and revealing of the realities and practicalities of life and it's beautiful. How many other photographs are shot from that angle?  I choose to look at it like this: I see each shot as an opportunity. If your shooting it for yourself it doesn't have to be perfect like it would for a client. You are given the opportunity to discover something different, so why not? Nothing makes me happier than to try something new that works. It doesn't always happen. Actually, more times than not it doesn't happen =) But that moment when it does it totally worth it.

& back to the tart recipe.  

enjoy!~